Billionaire Diaries #2: Caleb Acosta

Chapter 28

Kelly was amazed. Their friendship is really something. She can't help but to imagine their younger days. It's so adorable.

"You're all boys and Freesia's very pretty. No one did ever liked her?" tanong niya nang maalalang gandang-ganda siya kay Freesia.

"Two of my friends liked her. It's a secret. Hindi iyon alam ni Freesia. " Nagbikit-balikat ito.

Nanlaki ang mata niya at hindi mapigilang maging kuryoso. "Sino? I won't tell her! Promise!"

Caleb shook his head. "I doubt that. You're close friends. I bet Freesia see you as her bestfriend now. "

She pouted. "Please.. I won't tell her. I just want to know.. "

He sighed. "Phoenix and Zadrick.. " She giggled when Caleb answered her. "It's a secret between us. It's been years too. I'm sure they just see Freesia as a friend now. "

Napapangiti tuloy siya habang kumakain ng pancake. Sabi na, eh! Hindi talaga puwedeng walang magkagusto sa kanila kay Freesia!

Calm yourself, Kelly. You might accidentally slipped your tounge.

"You know her, right, Zumi? She's Ate Kelly. My girlfriend. She's kind.. sometimes. "

Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Caleb. Anong sometimes?!

"H-Hello po.. " Zumi said to her.

She smiled. "Hello. Zumi, right? What a pretty name. "

Mas napangiti siya nang makitang hindi na ito masyadong takot sa kan'ya. "I'm Izumi Gabriella po. Everyone calls me Zumi. I'm 10.." pakilala nito.

"She likes you. She wanted to be a model, too. " si Caleb.

"Really?" Her eyes glistened with joy.

Zumi nodded. "Yes po. But I.. I can't because I can't walk. "

Napakagat-labi siya sa sinabi nito. Caleb also look alarmed. He bent down to reach his sister's eyes.

"You can walk again, Zumi. Kuya will do everything, hmm? You can be whatever you want. "

Pinunasan niya ang luha nang hindi niya namalayang tumulo ito. My god, why she's so emotional these days..

Yumuko na rin siya para maabot ang bata. "Your Kuya's right. You can walk again. That will be soon. And Ate Kelly will teach you how to walk. You like that?"

Ngumiti ito at tumango.

Dumating ang therapist ni Zumi kaya't tumulong na lang din siya kay Caleb na magluto kahit hindi naman talaga siya marunong. Kunwari maggagayat-gayat siya ng sibuyas at bawang kahit sa bagay na iyon ay sobra siyang nahihirapan.

"What's your plan with Zumi after this?" she asked and tried to slice the cherry tomatoes. Why is this so small..

"Her mother abandoned her and there's no way that I'll give her to her father's custody. My father and his wife wanted to adopt Zumi and bring her abroad. We'll still talk, though. Although I'll be relieved if she's with my father and Tita Cory. They've been wanting to adopt since Tita can't bear a child. When they heard about Zumi, they said that they can take care of her and keeps on calling me every single day. "

"That's good. I think it's a good idea, too. " Tumikhim siya at mas inayos pa ang paghiwa ng kamatis. "What about I.. well.. "

"Hmm?"

"I just.. stay here today, too.. " Lumingon si Caleb sa kan'ya kaya't umiwas siya ng tingin. "I can.. I can go home tomorrow. Pero kung hindi naman puwede.. well.. " agap niya.

He just smiled and helped her slice the tomatoes. "Whatever you want. Zumi will also like if you're here. "

Napangiti siya dahil doon at ginanahan magluto. Zumi finished the session too.

Nilaharan niya ng snacks ang bata. Sumulyap siya sa may sala at nakitang nag-uusap si Caleb at ang therapist. The therapist was a lady in 40s. Kapatid iyon ng father ni Caleb.

"You want to go to your room?" tanong niya kay Zumi nang tawagin siya nito. Umiling ito.

"I have many magazines of you, Ate. But it's in my house. Can't take it. Pwede pong sa shoes ko kayo magsign?"

Masaya siyang tumango at kinuha ang puting sneakers nito sa kwarto at pinirmahan. She put a small message for Zumi and a quote, 'He conquers who endures'.

"Done. Like it?" she asked.

"Opo. I'll keep this!"

"Moris, hija. Girlfriend ka ni Caleb, ano?" kausap sa kan'ya ng Tita ni Caleb.

"Opo. Nice to meet you, Dra. "

"I'm fine with Tita, hija. No need to be formal. " Tumingin ito kay Caleb na kausap ang asawa ni Dra. na kakarating lang din. "What a lovely lady, Caleb. She looks so much like her mom, Georgina. "

Nagulat siya doon. "You know my mom, po?"

Tumawa ang ginang. "Of course, hija! Aside from the fact that she's very popular in her younger days, we're also classmates! Iyon nga lang ay sa ibang bansa ako nag-aral ng medicine at doon na rin nagsettle. "

"Then you should contact her, Tita. She don't hang out these days. She's more busy with her charitable activities. "

"That's your mom. She's kind of stubborn and unfriendly before but she's really kind. "

Natawa siya doon. Laging sinasabi ni Daddy na para daw talaga siyang si Mommy. The face, the behavior, and all..

Hindi rin nagtagal ang mag-asawa. Nang magtakip-silim ay tinulungan niya lang si Caleb na magtupi ng mga damit. Dahil walang kasambahay, nagpapalaundry sila.

"Paano ang kompanya mo? Who's handling right now? You've been away for months. "

"My father. I do my works through my laptop, too. " sagot nito. "Did you see Journey? How is she?"

"The last time I saw her, she's doing fine. Busy with school, that's what she said. "

Zumi and her watched some movies before the kid got tired. Nagsuot siya ng jacket at hinanap si Caleb dahil hindi niya makita. Napabuntung-hininga siya at lumabas ng bahay. The hammock was tempting so she went there with a small pillow. Luminga-linga siya sa paligid at hinanap ng mata si Caleb pero hindi niya talaga makita.

At nang maghintay pa siya ng ilang sandali ay nakita niyang papalapit si Caleb sa bahay. Ni hindi nga yata siya nakita. Kumurap siya nang makita ang hawak nito. At nang magtagpo ang paningin nila ay agad iyong binitawan ng lalaki.